Why is Ensha attacking me?

Ensha, the silent guardian of the Roundtable Hold, will suddenly invade and attack players immediately after they obtain one half of the Haligtree Secret Medallion key item. His sole objective is to steal the medallion piece before the player has a chance to use it. But what drives the previously non-hostile Ensha to such violent lengths?

Ensha‘s Motive: Fulfilling Gideon‘s Orders

Ensha‘s invasion is triggered by Gideon Ofnir‘s command to retrieve the medallion fragment and prevent the player from reaching the Consecrated Snowfield region it unlocks. As Gideon obsessively seeks knowledge of Queen Marika‘s true intentions, he likely views the secret Haligtree medallion as a threat to that goal. While the "All-Knowing" pretends ignorance of Ensha‘s violent methods, Ensha clearly acts in service to Gideon‘s wishes.

Presumptive Lore Theory: Why Gideon Wants the Medallion

I theorize that Gideon hopes to bar all Tarnished from entering the Haligtree and discovering Miquella‘s hope of becoming an Elden Lord. As an Empyrean with the power to replace Queen Marika, Miquella likely knew secrets about her motivations that could disrupt Gideon‘s tireless research. By stopping the player from meeting the slumbering Miquella, Gideon protects his status as the know-it-all while keeping Marika‘s secrets buried.

How To Trigger Ensha‘s Invasion

While most players stumble into Ensha‘s surprise attack organically, you can intentionally prompt his appearance by:

1. Obtaining the Right Half of the Haligtree Secret Medallion from Albus in Leyndell
2. Teleporting to the Roundtable Hold from any Site of Grace
3. Watch for Ensha‘s red summon sign to appear shortly after loading in

Ensha will invade wielding his ornamental straight sword and cannon brace in an attempt to quickly dispatch your Tarnished. Prepare for a difficult duel!

Ensha‘s Boss Fight Mechanics and Strategy

With high poise and ranged cannon attacks, Ensha presents a formidable challenge. Bait his slower moves while watches for burst counters after his combos. I utilized hit-and-run tactics and a standard longsword + frost or blood affinity to steadily whittle his health. Patience and proper spacing is key!

Ensha Invasion Loot

Defeating Ensha nets the player his Clinging Bone fist weapon and the possibility of also obtaining his Royal Remains armor set if it wasn‘t collected previously. Here are the full drops:

• Clinging Bone (100% drop rate)
• Royal Remains Helm (random drop)
• Royal Remains Armor (random drop)
• Royal Remains Gauntlets (random drop)
• Royal Remains Greaves (random drop)

While not the most powerful reward, the Clinging Bone‘s life-steal ability can be useful in the right builds. And the Royal Remains set boasts well-rounded protection and stamina recovery.

Theorizing On Ensha‘s True Motives

What personal grudge might Ensha hold against the Tarnished that would drive him to such violent betrayal of his comrades? As a fervent protector of the Erdtree admitting only "true" Tarnished to the Roundtable Hold, I believe Ensha comes to view the player as a threat to the old order Marika established.

Allowing us access to secrets like the Haligtree medallion fragments signals a coming change in the world that Ensha desperately hopes to prevent, even if it means our death. His fanatical reverence for Queen Marika fuels an extremism that cannot abide challengers to her rule. In his mind, the "true" Tarnished is Ensha alone.

In the end, Ensha‘s invaded serves as a dramatic reminder that the stakes continue to rise for our Tarnished. Where once stood non-hostile allies may now rise violent enemies. Trust no one fully in the Lands Between!